Hi Alsdad & dt,

Thanks for your comments. I should point out that it isn’t completely plain sailing over here either.

I had to ask my hepatologist about generics to get a response. (I suspect it is still not the done thing for public hep clinics to be recommending generics to their patients) Once I asked, he was forthcoming and told me the clinic had other patients doing the same and that he would write me a private scrip but did ask where I planned to source them from, obviously the “do no harm” rule kicking in but he was aware of Buyers Club, Kingswood and Greg. I then asked if he would monitor and his comment was that as I was a patient of the clinic I needed to continue being monitored anyway. So it can still be a bit “nudge, nudge – wink, wink” over here.

I then told my GP, explaining that I just expected him to monitor my general health. He was more difficult with dire warnings of internet scams, etc. He did calm down a bit when I explained where I got my scrip but I suspect he won’t be ready to accept until I start getting results of my bloods.

And yes dt, I’m selfish too. If I hadn’t got their support my plan was to keep trying other avenues until I got the generics. But I also want to help others which is why I’m writing about change.

As you say, you both have good docs even though the NHS won’t support them within the system at present. I have little doubt they will be discussing with their colleagues, particularly once they start to get “undetectables” and then SVRs down the track. And I should imagine that 2/3 of the hepatologists in the ranks are looking on with interest or talking round the water cooler at the moment anyway. Only a small percentage seize change on first sight but many will jump on board quickly when they see benefits with most of the rest following eventually. And that will open opportunities even if it has to be outside the NHS for now.

Talk with them in a non threatening environment, find out how you can help spread the message to others who they think badly need treatment. Ask them what information it would take to convince their colleagues. Request their input without judging.

Network as you say, but whenever the opportunity arises feed results back to “the system”. Let them know of yours and/or others successes. Make small incremental changes where you can and with time it will grow. Maybe not exactly as you currently envisage but that’s what change is all about.

So all those medicos should be dancing in the streets now that people are able to source their own DAAs at reasonable cost shouldn’t they?

Hmmmmm………so why isn’t that happening?

Well, remember Garth?

That’s right, you got it, CHANGE.

It’s scary for most people, even those in the medical profession.

Some medicos will adapt to it quickly and start surfing the DAA wave with us almost immediately.

Others will need to sit on the beach for a while and watch before they become confident enough to take the plunge.

There are those who may never do more than dip their toe in the water and will always insist on having the water wings of government subsidy or the lifesaving reels of insurance payments behind them.

Those of us who are already surfing or waiting for our boards to arrive need to convince them that the water is safe and warm. We can do that by calmly owning our own health, politely asking for assistance with monitoring, smiling and thanking them when they agree, and smiling and politely thanking them for listening before moving on and finding someone else if they refuse. Sharing our SRV celebrations with them and showing them that these drugs work, but not not blaming if by some tiny chance we don’t succeed.

Of course, there will also be some who will feel so threatened by the change that they will actively fight against it with every breath. This is just human nature, please forgive them. Fighting with them will only harden their stance and cause you unnecessary stress.

Anyway, enough from me for now. What about you?